Jim Stafford

Personnel: Jim Stafford (acoustic guitar, banjo, harmonica, vocals); Richard Bennett (guitar); Slyde Hyde (trombone); Gallagher (whazoo); Alan Lindgren (keyboard, synthesizer); Emory Gordon (bass); Dennis St. John (drums); Alan Estes (conga).
Recorded at Producer's Workshop, Sound Lab and Master Sound, Atlanta, Georgia.
All songs written or co-written by Jim Stafford.
Personnel: Jim Stafford (guitar, acoustic guitar, banjo, harmonica); Richard Bennett (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Richard Rodney Bennett (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Dick Hyde (trombone); Alan Lindgren (keyboards, synthesizer); Dennis St. John (drums); Alan Estes (congas).
Audio Remixer: Gary N. Mayo.
Recording information: Master Sound Atlanta, Atlanta, GA; Producer's Workshop, Los Angeles, CA; Sound Lab.
Unknown Contributor Role: Gallagher.
Arrangers: Emory Gordy; John Abbott ; Phil Gernhard.
Jim Stafford's self-titled debut album gave him four Top 40 chart singles, with the schoolboyish charm of "Spiders and Snakes" reaching the highest at number three in July of 1973. His friendly voice and novelty style of songwriting actually carried some well-deserved weight, especially throughout the lesson-teaching lightheartedness of "Swamp Witch," a well-crafted story song, and again on the laughable "My Girl Bill." "Wildwood Weed" sticks with Stafford's love of playing with words, and non-hits like "I Ain't Sharin' Sharon" and "16 Little Red Noses and a Horse That Sweats" carry on with the same type of innocent jocularity that ran amuck throughout the mid-'70s, bolstered by artists like Ray Stevens and CW McCall. Either this album or any of his hits packages will satisfy any interest. ~ Mike DeGagne